Buying guide

MQ-9 Reaper vs Archer in 2026

Comparing 2 humanoid robots across availability, pricing, capabilities, and verified deployments. Current as of 2026.

Key differences

On DEPLOY's record, MQ-9 Reaper is further along: at the production stage versus Archer at the commercial stage, as of 2026.

Archer has the lower recorded price.
MQ-9 Reaper has more verified real-world deployments (4 vs 2).
MQ-9 Reaper is at the production stage; Archer at the commercial stage.

Attribute	MQ-9 Reaper View full model page →	Archer View full model page →
Manufacturer	General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	Neros
Form factor	aerial	aerial
Maturity	production	commercial
Autonomy	—	—
Availability	internal-onlyenterprise	internal-onlyenterprise
Price	$20,000,000-$32,000,000 (actual sale price)	$2,000-$5,000 (analyst estimate)
Capability claims	—	—
Brain	—	—
Verified deployments	4	2Neros, Neros
Privacy practices	—	—
Sources on file	12	8

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MQ-9 Reaper

Archer

Editorial summaries

MQ-9 Reaper

The MQ-9 Reaper, from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, is the canonical legacy-prime medium-altitude long-endurance drone and the AI-augmented-not-autonomous contrast to the new-defense AI-first triangle. The MQ-9A (first flight 2001, in service since May 2007) is a remotely-piloted aircraft flown by a crew of three (pilot, sensor operator, mission intelligence coordinator) from a ground control station, with about 30 hours of ISR or 23 hours of armed endurance, a 3,800-pound payload, and AGM-114 Hellfire and GBU-12/38 munitions; the MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian adds 40-plus hours and civil-airspace integration (the UK operates it as Protector RG Mk1).

It is fielded across the US DoD and allied air forces; the MQ-9A line closed production in 2025 while the MQ-9B is in production. Its AI is augmentation, not autonomy: sensor fusion, ISR processing, and targeting assistance run while a human crew flies the aircraft and makes mission decisions. It is defense procurement equipment; there is no consumer price.

Archer

Neros' Archer is a first-person-view (FPV) strike quadcopter from the 2023-founded, Los-Angeles-based new-defense maker, sold to defense customers rather than consumers, so there is no consumer price. Its verified gating events are strong for so new a company: selection for the US Army's Purpose-Built Attritable Systems (PBAS) program Tranche 1 in November 2025 as one of three primary FPV makers, a multi-million-dollar Marine Corps Archer Strike contract in December 2025, and roughly 6,000 Archers fielded to Ukraine via the Ramstein drone coalition at about 1,500 per month.

Two corrections the registry records and this page carries: the often-cited Replicator tie is not borne out (the verified program is Army PBAS plus Marine and DIU work), and the Archer is a human-piloted FPV drone, not autonomous (Series-B funds are earmarked for autonomy research that is aspirational, not fielded). Recorded at early commercial maturity on real product plus named contracts plus combat fielding; the aspirational scale figures (10,000 per month, one million per year) and the undisclosed PBAS value/quantity/timeline are not granted.

Common questions

How do MQ-9 Reaper and Archer differ?

On DEPLOY's record, MQ-9 Reaper is further along: at the production stage versus Archer at the commercial stage, as of 2026. Archer has the lower recorded price. MQ-9 Reaper has more verified real-world deployments (4 vs 2). MQ-9 Reaper is at the production stage; Archer at the commercial stage.

What is the difference between MQ-9 Reaper and Archer?

MQ-9 Reaper and Archer are both aerial robots on the DEPLOY registry. They differ in maker, maturity, price, verified deployments, and how much of their autonomy is independently verified. See the table above for the full head-to-head; each figure is sourced.

Which is cheaper, MQ-9 Reaper or Archer?

Archer has the lower recorded price on the DEPLOY registry than MQ-9 Reaper. Prices are sourced; see each record for whether the figure is a manufacturer target, an estimate, or an actual sale price.

Which has more verified deployments, MQ-9 Reaper or Archer?

MQ-9 Reaper has more verified deployments (4) on the DEPLOY registry than Archer (2). DEPLOY counts a deployment only when confirmed at a named site with a primary source.

Recent coverage

Engineered Yeast Turns Plastic Waste Into 3D Printed Food for Space MissionsArcher · 3D Printing Industry · 2026-08-29
Many of the Chinese bots X says posted anti-data-center content had no followers or engagement, a researcher foundArcher · Business Insider · 2026-08-28
Wildfire Is General Atomics’ Successor To The MQ-9 ReaperMQ-9 Reaper · The War Zone · 2026-08-20
U.S. Air Force plans cheaper MQ-9 Reaper successor after Iran combat use, targeting 2031 fielding and massed drone operationsMQ-9 Reaper · Defence Industry Europe · 2026-08-17

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All dronesRegistry Every verified record in the category.MQ-9 ReaperModel The full model page.ArcherModel The full model page.General Atomics Aeronautical SystemsRecord The maker's verified record.NerosRecord The maker's verified record.AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600) vs MQ-9 ReaperCompare Another head-to-head.

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